KORCEK'S CORNER: Glancing at NIU's top rebounders

Northern Illinois center Jordan Threloff (left) is pressured by Kent State’s Mark Henniger to force a jump ball during the first half Jan. 15 at the Convocation Center in DeKalb.

By MIKE KORCEK – sports@daily-chronicle.com

Rhetorical Question: So, who would you put on the all-time, Top 10 Northern Illinois University’s men’s basketball rebounder’s list?

If that’s possible. Limiting this elite group of Huskies boardmen to 10 might be difficult, even for Ethan Hunt, let alone a loyal NIU hoops aficionado of nearly a half century.

The thought popped into my head watching NIU redshirt-junior Jordan Threloff’s late-season maturation process in the low post, after seeing No. 42’s monster 27-point, 18-rebound game against Eastern Michigan, and perusing his increasing board numbers (10.8 rebounds a game in his past six games).

Threloff’s 18-board performance marked the best Huskie single-game rebound outing since forward Marcus Smallwood pulled down 21 against Loyola of Chicago in 2003.

In the paint, double-digit rebounds separate the men from the boys.

Is there a correlation between proficient rebounding and the team’s won-lost record? Strong inside play might be a factor. During each of the past nine seasons, NIU’s top rebounder averaged less than seven rebounds a game. In eight of those nine campaigns, the Huskies finished below .500.

That said, is rebounding a lost art? Historically, you must say yes. Between 1950-51 (the first year of documented individual NIU hoop statistics) and 1976-77, NIU’s top rebounder averaged double figures 22 times in 27 seasons. Conversely, in the past 35 years, the Huskies’ No. 1 boardman finished in single marks 32 times.

Centenary’s Robert Parish won the NCAA rebound crown in 1974-75 (15.4) and 1975-76 (18.0), followed by Houston’s Akeem Olajuwon (13.5 in 1983-84), Navy’s David Robinson (13.0 in 1985-86) and Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan (14.7 in 1996-97). Even the most casual fan recognizes those future NBA Hall of Famers.

By 21st century standards (or anybody’s, for that matter), averaging double-figure rebounds still looks impressive.

No. 10: Smallwood (2000-04): Classic jumping jack and athletic specimen. Literally. The 6-6 forward could take off twice before most opponents jumped once. Produced 843 career rebounds and 1,276 career points. Averaged 10.1 rpg./13.3 ppg. as junior and 9.3 rpg./14/3 ppg. as senior.

No. 6: Donnell Thomas (1987-91): Called mini-Charles Barkley for relentless rebound pursuit (984 career) at 6-4. First and only NIU performer to lead team in boardwork for four straight seasons (8.5 rpg. in 1987-88, 9.6 in 1988-89, 8.0 in 1989-90 and 8.2 in 1990-91). Produced 37 career point-rebound double-doubles.

No. 5 Lux (1995-2000): Master of paint smarts, position, and consistency. “The King of the Double-Double” (50 double-doubles in 116 career games). Ranks No. 1 in NIU career scoring (1,996 points) and rebounding (1,100). Only four-year male first-team all-league hardwood star in school history. Three-time Academic All-America and team MVP.

No. 3: Hicks (1974-77): NIU’s own David “Skywalker” Thompson at 6-4, but played 6-8. First performer in Mid-American Conference history to repeat as scoring and rebounding champion. “Smallest” D-I boardman in NCAA Top 15 in back-to-back seasons. Produced 1,513 career points, 790 boards and 46 point-rebound double-doubles (68 games). Target of many rigged defenses, illegal hold block-outs, and undercut attempts. Projecting his career numbers (22.0 ppg. and 11.8 rpg. in 67 appearances to 100 games), Hicks would’ve finished with 2,200 points and 1,180 rebounds.

No. 2: Rayhorn (1978-82): White men can jump. With an uncanny sense of timing, farm work ethic and “danged” (his word) perseverance, “Horn” pounded and pounded the glass. “[Rayhorn]never gives up,” said Kansas State forward Les Kraft after the NCAA game in 1982. “There’s nobody in the Big Eight that plays that hard.” One-time No. 1 NIU all-time scorer (1,848 points) and rebounder (1,077 in 115 games). Graduated as one of only 10 players in MAC history with four-figure career point-rebound totals.

No. 1: Bradley (1971-73): How prophetic was the famous Sports Illustrated shot in the DeKalb cornfields?

At 6-10, 221 pounds, “the Franchise” had it all, ultimately being compared to “Magic” Johnson. With his height, athleticism and wingspan, there’s no better inside player in the NIU record book.

“I think Jim Bradley was as talented a player as I ever saw,” former ABA Kentucky Colonels star Dan Issel once said. “I mean, talent-wise, I would put him with the Julius Ervings and David Thompsons of this world.”

• Mike Korcek is a former NIU sports information director. His historical perspective on NIU athletics appears periodically in the Daily Chronicle. Write to him at sports@daily-chronicle.com.